Seattle pro franchises score low in ESPN rankings

The Mariners haven't done much winning over the past few seasons, but the fans who show up seem to enjoy themselves. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Here’s a shocker for Seattle sports fans: In a somewhat scientific analysis of professional sports franchises in the four major sports, Seattle teams don’t score a whole lot of points.

Part of the reason is that Seattle teams don’t score a lot of points, but ESPN’s index considers more than just on-field performance.

The Seahawks were No. 61 and the Mariners were No. 108 in the Ultimate Standings. The rankings consider eight criteria to determine standings: bang for the buck, fan relations, ownership, affordability, stadium experience, players, coaching and title track.

The Green Bay Packers were No. 1, moving up from the ninth spot after their Super Bowl victory. Not surprisingly, the Cincinnati Bengals were last at No. 122.

The Seahawks were No. 12 among NFL teams, scoring particularly high in stadium experience and coaching. The franchise’s score was weighed down by affordability and bang for the buck, which measures wins in relation to revenue directly from fans.

The Mariners were No. 28 out of 30 major league franchises. The team’s highest score came in stadium experience. The Mariners were near the bottom for all sports in fan relations, players, coaching and title track. The team’s surprising 2011 season should help them in next year’s list.

And just to rub in it a little more for Seattle fans, the Oklahoma City Thunder, formerly known as the Seattle Sonics, was No. 6 overall and No. 2 among NBA teams. The Thunder was near the top in fan relations, affordability and players.